50 minute layover in ATL?

[disneyfan922]

So, I'm flying at the end of the month and the flight that has the best times for me has a 50 minute layover at ATL. I don't fly often, maybe 1-2 times a year and the largest airports I have been through in recent memory were PHL/MCO and those were non stop flights. Both flights are Southwest and the first leg is an originating flight so I'm hoping to minimize delay chances. Even so, I'm a little intimidated by the size of ATL. Its just me, no checked baggage, and I can move just fine. Even so, is 50 minutes enough for a connection in an airport like that?

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

Wow that is tight, and what if there is a delay landing. Atlanta is the busiest airport, in US if not the world if I recall. I was there twice. The first time I didn't even try to make the connection on standby flying because I had to potty stop. I never would have made it. It is a chance that all will go right and you could make it. Start watching that flight and its history if timely or delayed.

 

[jec6613]

50 minutes is sufficient; a bit tighter than I'd like personally, but not enough to make me worry. I go for 1:15 on domestics myself, and 3-4 hours on international connections in foreign countries.

Atlanta is the busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic, but not by takeoffs and landings (that goes to O'Hare in Chicago). Because you're flying WN, there will not be a terminal change, at worst a concourse change and even that's pretty rare for them. Given that you origin flight is the first of the morning, I wouldn't worry about that connection at all.

Also, since you're connecting to MCO, if the worst occurs and you miss the second flight, you should have no trouble getting onto the next flight in a few hours.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

If your originating flight is on time, 50 minutes will be plenty of time to connect.

 

[Hopefully]

I wouldn't o it an ATL. Not enough time for me

 

[DVC California]

Everyone's comfort level is different and only you know your stress level. Personally, I think 50 minutes should work, especially flying solo without checked bags. If it's a morning flight, barring weather or equipment delays, you should not run into your first flight getting in late.

What is of importance is to find a seat as far forward as possible so you can deplane quickly. If you have EBCI, your set. If not, check in right at T-24 hours. Or if you don't mind a middle seat, grab the first one you see near the front. This extra 10 minutes gained is a great investment should things go south timewise.

SWA usually announce connecting gate information. Try to listen which gate your arriving in ATL and the connecting gate to MCO. If they are close, no worries. If they sound far, you will be mentally prepared. Look at the map in the on board magazine for gate layout. Then take a quick glance at the board in the terminal to check it hasn't changed.

HTH, Steve

 

[loves to dive]

I live in Georgia and fly in and out of Atlanta all the time. As long as you are using the same airline with your connecting flight you should be o.k. since they try to keep those gates in the same terminal. With no checked luggage it's easy and there is almost always someone waiting when you get off the plane to show you to your connecting gate. Your next gate should be listed on your ticket/boarding pass and there is almost always a map of the airport in the little magazine on the plane so look up your next gate while you are flying and you'll have some idea where to go. If you already have your boarding passes before leaving home, google a map of the airport and look for your gates so you'll have some idea where to go when you de-plane. It's a big airport but really easy to get around in.

 

[sam_gordon]

I would have no problem with a 50 minute connection in Atlanta. Especially with Southwest who I believe only uses one terminal. As mentioned, if you miss connections, there should be later flights.

 

[momto2inKC]

We had a 50 min layover and barely made it. SW does use 2 terminals, so se landed in one and had to transfer to another.

 

[disneyfan922]

Thank you for all the responses. I did already purchase EBCI so I can be as close to the front of the plane as possible. I feel more comfortable after reading these responses.

 

[PSUGuy]

In 2004 our group of 8 including a toddler and my then 78 yr old mother made a Delta connection in 45 mins, no problem. The underground trolley really flies.

Bill From PA

 

[jec6613]

No underground trolley as there's no terminal change in this case - even faster.

 

[maxiesmom]

No underground trolley as there's no terminal change in this case - even faster.

Well, either you or momto2inKC are wrong, as she remembers having to change terminals when flying Southwest.

OP--It will be tight, but you can do it. Get of the first plane as fast as you can, and go to your next gate pronto. Do not stop for anything, no restroom break (use the bathroom on the plane) no snacks, nothing. Not until you make it to your connecting gate and can judge if you have time to go grab a water or use the restroom.

A quick search pulls up that Southwest flies out of terminals C and F in ATL. So a terminal change for the OP is possible.

 

[jec6613]

A quick search pulls up that Southwest flies out of terminals C and F in ATL. So a terminal change for the OP is possible.

Not anymore, see here: http://www.travelnerd.com/airports/atlanta-airport-ATL/terminal-map

Also here, showing no WN flights in or out of anywhere but C: http://www.atlanta-airport.com/Passenger/FlightInformation/search.aspx?FIDSType=D&SearchAirline=WN

F is now dedicated to international service, and all domestic WN flights are in and out of C.

 

[disneyfan922]

Not anymore, see here: http://www.travelnerd.com/airports/atlanta-airport-ATL/terminal-map

Also here, showing no WN flights in or out of anywhere but C: http://www.atlanta-airport.com/Passenger/FlightInformation/search.aspx?FIDSType=D&SearchAirline=WN

F is now dedicated to international service, and all domestic WN flights are in and out of C.

Thank you very much for that information. That makes me feel much much better!

 

[Happy_Haunt999]

Not in ATL. It will be a tight connector time at best. Good luck!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

If in doubt about airline terminals, why not check Southwest's website? It clearly states they use Terminal C at ATL:

https://www.southwest.com/html/air/airport-information.html

 

[ibob52]

For me that is too tight of a connection ... out of any airport (if flying SWA)

I am far too concerned about my *Boarding* position because a middle seat does not work ... for me.

By the time the original flight has exited the plane ... the connecting flight would already be boarding.

That is if both planes are on schedule.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Way too tight. ATL is the busiest airport to make a tight connection. If your arrival flight is delayed because it has not been cleared to land or that the gate is not available yet and you have to wait on the tarmac even 5 minutes you could miss your connection and possibly risk that fact that there may not be an open seat available on the other flights for the remainder of the day. So be prepared.

 

[jec6613]

Way too tight. ATL is the busiest airport to make a tight connection. If your arrival flight is delayed because it has not been cleared to land or that the gate is not available yet and you have to wait on the tarmac even 5 minutes you could miss your connection and possibly risk that fact that there may not be an open seat available on the other flights for the remainder of the day. So be prepared.

5 minutes into a 50 minute connection time will not make you miss your connection - your next flight won't even be boarding for 10-15 minutes after you get off of the plane, and you simply need to walk to the next gate, in the same section of the same terminal. ATL's connection time is 40 minutes with a terminal change, and 25 without; a 50 minute connection on WN has a full 25 minutes of slack in it before you may need to worry. It might be tighter if there was a terminal change, but there isn't - this is a walk off the plane and walk onto the next one situation.

BTW, ATL isn't the busiest airport to make a tight connection with ATC delays, that distinction belongs to Chicago since last year, and I'd be more worried about connecting through the other Southwest hub in Chicago than through Atlanta in December.